By Aiyeku Timothy
Suspended DCP Abba Kyari on Monday pleaded not guilty to a drug trafficking charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Kyari made his plea before Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, alongside the four police officers, who are defendants in the trial in the one, two, three and four count charge filed against them.
However, Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively, pleaded guilty to counts five, six, and seven preferred against them.
Although their names were also mentioned in counts three and four where allegations bordering on conspiracy were leveled against Kyari and others, they were not asked to take a plea on these two counts.
The four members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022 include ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu.
Umeibe and Ezenwanne are the two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.
Later on, the NDLEA lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, prayed the court for a trial date for the 1st to 5th defendants.
Sunday also urged the court to grant a leave to review the charges against Umeibe and Ezenwanne, who pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
